Sacrifice / Propagandhi

One of the greatest ideas since sliced bread and the mute button, Winnipeg, MB's War On Music issues a split single from two of Canada's greatest, yet most underrated, acts: thrash metal gurus Sacrifice and politi-punks Propagandhi. Opting for something slightly different, each band cover one track from their personal heroes. Sacrifice strip Rush's "Anthem" down to its bones, rebuilding it with tenacity, bile and grit. Venturing into darker territory, Propagandhi tackle "Technocracy," from hardcore punks Corrosion of Conformity's 1987 EP of the same name. While a bit more straightforward, adhering more to the original version, "Technocracy" is no less vicious than its vinyl partner, creating the extreme music equivalent of peanut butter and chocolate: a compelling blend of overt metal and ripping hardcore. Both songs are delivered with the severity, passion and inherent originality that make these bands great. While devout Sacrifice fans will be disappointed that their track has been available for over a year, hearing it paired with an equally explosive tune is more than acceptable. Not only is this split the purest representation of crossover in decades, but its immaculate relaying is so exciting that one track per band is nowhere near enough. This is a concept that needs to be explored much deeper than on a simple two-sided seven-inch.